Welcome to SLICED SPREAD, the place on Inside Pulse Sports for weekly NFL picks against the spread, head to head survivor picks, and score prognostications.
Well, at least I got my survivor pick right by taking the Texans over the Dolphins last week. Other than that, week 1 was not so kind to me, but it could have been worse as I started 2-8 and thankfully rebounded to go 4-2 in the remaining games.
With that said, let’s shake off the cobwebs and move…
Onto the breakdown!
SLICED SPREAD: NFL WEEK 1 BREKADOWN
WEEK 1 ATS: 6-10
WEEK 1 LOCKS ATS: 0-3
WEEK 1 H2H SURVIVOR PICK: WIN (Texans over Dolphins)
THIS SEASON ATS: 6-10
THIS SEASON LOCKS ATS: 0-3
THIS SEASON H2H: 11-5
H2H SURVIVOR TEAMS USED:
Texans (Week 1, Win)
SLICED SPREAD: NFL WEEK 2 PICKS
Home teams are shown in CAPS
Point spreads shown in ().
THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL:
*LOCK IT UP: Chicago (+6.5) over GREEN BAY — I love the Bears this week to continue to roll on the road as they are catching the Packers at the right time for an upset. The Bears are the real deal this year, and as hard as it will be to believe, Green Bay will wind up in an early 0-2 hole. Bears win 31-24
SUNDAY:
*LOCK IT UP: Baltimore (+2.5) over PHILADELPHIA — The Ravens are another team that really came to play last week, and I have a feeling they will leave Philadelphia with another win. The Eagles were lucky to escape Cleveland last week in a mistake-filled game on both ends … they won’t be so lucky here. Ravens win 27-17
Minnesota (-0.5) over INDIANAPOLIS — I thought Andrew Luck was as good as you could expect him to be in Chicago last week. For his home debut, he gets a Vikings team that will not be as tough of a test. The problem is the Colts really lack the other offensive weapons for me to really have any real confidence in them. Vikings win 19-16
*H2H SURVIVOR PICK/LOCK IT UP: NEW ENGLAND (-13.5) over Arizona — Sometimes there are no words. Patriots win 45-13
Kansas City (+3.5) over BUFFALO — The Chiefs really spit the bit against the Falcons last week. Fortunately for them, they are facing an already hobbled Buffalo team that is going nowhere fast. I’ll take the points … and a Chiefs win. Chiefs win 24-21
NY GIANTS (-9.5) over Tampa Bay — Are the Bucs for real? Are the Giants going to suffer a season-long hangover? I say no on both counts, and the extra rest will help New York right the ship and even cover the big spread. Giants win 34-20
CINCINNATI (-7.5) over Cleveland — Last week was an aberration for both the Bengals and the Browns. The Bengals are not as bad as Baltimore made them out to be, and Cleveland should not have even sniffed a win last week against the turnover-happy Eagles. This week, I sense some course correction. Bengals win 23-10
Houston (-6.5) over JACKSONVILLE — I am riding with Houston until they prove me wrong otherwise. The Jags were a tough out last week, but Houston is a much more talented team than Minnesota, so… Texans win 31-17
New Orleans (-2.5) over CAROLINA — People are REALLY down on the Saints after last week’s home debacle against RG3 and Company. But like I said last week, Cam Newton is exciting and all, but the Panthers haven’t learned how to turn that energy into wins. With the low spread I love the Saints to bounce back. Saints win 28-16
Dallas (-2.5) over SEATTLE — Dallas is traveling to a tough west coast environment, but they have had a long time to plan this out since their huge Wednesday night win over the Giants to start the season and they are how stacked offensively if they can stay healthy. This won’t be completely easy, but… Cowboys win 30-19
Washington (-2.5) over ST. LOUIS — RG3 is for real, the Rams are not. Redskins win 28-24
Oakland (-2.5) over MIAMI — The Dolphins might be the worst team in the league, but it’s not like I love the Raiders either. I wouldn’t touch this one, but since I have to… Raiders win 17-12
PITTSBURGH (-6.5) over NY Jets — The Jets are nowhere near as good as they showed to be last week against an inept Buffalo team. Also, the Steelers will be out for revenge on Tim Tebow for ending their season last year and Pittsburgh will also pull out all the stops to avoid an 0-2 start. Steelers win 24-17
SAN DIEGO (-6.5) over Tennessee — I didn’t like the Chargers last week and I picked the Titans to keep it close against the Pats. I stand corrected. Chargers win 28-14
SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL:
SAN FRANCISCO (-6.5) over Detroit — Everyone thinks the Lions will cover here. Do they not realize how awesomely dominant this Niners team will be this season? SF can do anything to anyone on any field, as long as they stay healthy. Niners win 35-20
MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL:
ATLANTA (-3.5) over Denver — Of course you don’t bet against Peyton Manning as an underdog on National TV, right? Except that last I checked, Manning can’t play defense, and the Falcons have a ton of offensive firepower themselves. Atlanta wins and covers in a shootout, pulling away for good in the second half. Falcons win 41-28
Week 2 ATS Locks Recap: Bears, Ravens, Patriots
Week 2 H2H Survivor Pick: Patriots over Cardinals
That’s it for this week’s season of SLICED SPREAD.
See you next week – CB.
